Mallya encourages by Force India form

Team principal Vijay Mallya has said he is encouraged by the results secured by Force India in recent races, insisting that the performance in the back-to-back events in Germany and Hungery was 'quite remarkable'.

Continued development work on the VJM04 was rewarded with a sixth place finish for Adrian Sutil and seventh for Paul di Resta in Hungary; the brace of results being seasons best for both drivers.

The results have allowed the team to move ahead of Toro Rosso in the constructors' championship while also closing the gap on Sauber in the race for sixth – with Mallya delighted with the recent form shown by the Silverstone-based squad.

“It's the result that counts,” he said. “I'm very encouraged and very happy. Development work through the season is obviously paying off. The car is getting better and more competitive and easier to drive. The drivers are highly motivated and clearly they are putting in their very best. In Germany it was Adrian, and in Hungary, Paul.

“We had a slow start to the season, because I think the first few flyaway races were just an extension of our development programme. But once we got going from the European season onwards, particularly from Monaco, we've improved almost every race. These last few races, where we have qualified in Q3, say it all. To be in the top ten in such a fiercely competitive field is quite remarkable, and quite satisfying.”

Following the summer break, Force India will return to the scene of its best showings to date after Giancarlo Fisichello took pole position and then finished second back in 2009.

While a repeat of that result would appear unlikely this time around, Mallya said he was confident that the team will once again be strong in Belgium as it seeks to add to its championship tally.

“It was an absolutely fantastic moment to see the car in pole position in 2009 and Giancarlo Fisichella on the podium,” he said. “But that car could only go very fast in a straight line, and pretty much didn't do very much else! Now it's doing everything that's asked of it, irrespective of the track. I think that's a better position to be in.

“The car is going to be quick, I think. If you look at the sector maximum speeds in the race in Hungary, in S1 Adrian was the quickest, and in S3, Paul was the quickest. So this car has pace. But it also has good downforce to handle the corners as well. I'll be looking forward to Spa, and hopefully a strong showing.”

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